Personal control apparatus and method for sharing information in a collaborative workspace

ABSTRACT

A system comprising a switching device linked to a common display screen and including a wireless receiver configured to receive content, the switching device configured to use the received content to drive the common display screen and a plurality of interface devices, each interface device including an interface housing, an interface device processor, a control button mounted within the housing and a plug linked to the housing via a cable, the plug receivable within a connection port of a computing device, a first interface device including a first device processor, a first plug and a first control button, the first processor configured to perform the steps of, with the first plug received in the connection port of the first computing device and first content presented on the first display screen while other content is presented on the common display screen, detecting selection of the first control button and, upon detecting selection of the first control button, causing a wireless transmission to the switching device, upon receiving the wireless transmission, the switching device presenting the content from the first computing device display screen on the common display screen.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/568,938 which was filed on Dec. 12, 2014 and which is titled“Personal Control Apparatus And Method For Sharing Information In ACollaborative Workspace,” which is a continuation of U.S. applicationSer. No. 14/293,135, which was filed on Jun. 2, 2014, issuing as U.S.Pat. No. 9,339,106 on May 17, 2016 and which is titled “ControlApparatus And Method For Sharing Information In A CollaborativeWorkspace,” which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/474,670, which was filed on May 29, 2009, issuing as U.S. Pat. No.8,896,656 on Nov. 25, 2014, and which is titled “Personal ControlApparatus And Method For Sharing Information In A CollaborativeWorkspace,” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.12/250,192, which was filed on Oct. 13, 2008, issuing as U.S. Pat. No.8,074,581 on Dec. 12, 2011, and which is titled “Conference DisplayConfiguration,” which claimed priority to U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 60/979,668 that was filed on Oct. 12, 2007, each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the presentation of audiovisualinformation via one or more large format common displays in acollaborative workspace and more specifically to a fast and intuitivecontroller allowing a meeting participant with a laptop computer toquickly and easily control the presentation of laptop information oncommon displays.

Small group conference tables usable as collaborative workspaces havebeen designed with one or more large video displays such as a LCDflat-panel monitor or a wall suitable for having images projectedthereon, connected to or adjacent the conference table. The basic intentbehind such workspace designs is to provide information at or near atable edge for attendees to refer to during discussions andpresentations. In many cases, the video display is connected to anddriven by a dedicated computer.

Oftentimes, more than one attendee needs to be able to control theinformation presented on the video display at different times during aconference. One way to allow several attendees to present information ona video display screen is to have each presenter sequentially connecttheir laptop computer directly to the display or projector with adedicated audio/video cable. Though straightforward and simple, havingto repeatedly disconnect and connect the cable from one laptop computerto another takes time and is disruptive.

Another way of enabling several attendees to share audiovisualinformation from their own laptop computers via a common large videodisplay screen is to provide separate audio/video cables for eachpresenter and connect each of the laptops to an audiovisual switchingdevice that enables the attendees to take control of the common displayscreen via selection of a button associated with each of the audio/videocables.

While such an arrangement provide a relatively quick transition betweenpresenters, such arrangements typically require a separate controller orcontrol program and a number of less-than-intuitive steps that must befollowed to transition from one presenter to another. Further, knownsuch arrangements do not provide a quick and intuitive indication as towhich presenter is sharing their information via the video displayscreen. As a result, meeting presenters and participants may experienceconfusion and delay between transitions. Such user experiences mayresult in a loss of productivity and in general, can be significantimpediments to the successful collaboration between conferenceparticipants and willingness of participants to use the system.

Thus, while solutions for managing and controlling the flow ofinformation from interconnected computing devices have been developed,known solutions do not provide simple and intuitive steps for selectingwhich information is shared via the video display and for indicatingwhich of several video/audio resources currently control presentedinformation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has been recognized that a simple control interface may be providedwhere the interface provides feedback to configuration users indicatingwhich of several different conference attendees is presentinginformation via one or more common display screens or presentationspaces. To this end, a separate control interface is provided for eachof a plurality of attendees where each interface includes controlbuttons or the like and indicators that can indicate visuallydistinguished states. For instance, when a laptop or other video/audiosource is linked to one of the control interfaces, the interface mayvisually indicate that the laptop is in a state wherein the laptop maybe used to present information via one or more common displays but thatthe laptop is not currently presenting. When a user selects one of thebuttons on the interface to present information on the common display,the indicator may change appearance to visually indicate to attendeesthat the laptop linked to the interface is presenting.

It has also been recognized that where a configuration includes morethan one common display, it would be useful to provide an indication toeach configuration user as to common display options which can beselected and which common displays are currently being driven via auser's laptop or other source. To this end, in at least some cases eachcontrol interface is configured to include a separate selectable buttonsfor each common display where, when a button is selected so that asource associated with the interface is to drive an associated display,the appearance of the button or an indicator associated therewith ismodified to indicate to the user which of the common displays iscurrently being driven. In particularly advantageous embodiments theindicators include illumination devices wherein different illuminationcolors indicate different states or conditions.

Consistent with the above, at least some inventive embodiments include amethod of selecting information from a video source to be displayed onat least a first common display screen in a collaborative workspacehaving a switching device, the method comprising the steps of providinga selectable control interface that includes at least one indicator thatcan indicate at least first and second different states, associating avideo source with the switching device so that video information fromthe video source is presented to the switching device, when the videosource is associated with the switching device, causing the at least oneindicator to indicate a first state and, when the selectable controlinterface is selected, causing the at least one indicator to indicatethe second state and providing the video information from the videosource to the common display screen via the switching device.

In at least some cases the step of providing a selectable controlinterface includes providing a mechanical interface that includes atleast one selectable button. In at least some cases the mechanicalinterface includes a first cable linkable to the video source and asecond cable which links to the switching device and wherein the step ofassociating a video source with the switching device includes linkingthe first cable to the video source. In at least some cases theindicator includes at least a first illumination device wherein thesteps of causing the at least one indicator to indicate the first andsecond states includes causing the illumination device to light up firstand second different colors, respectively.

In at least some cases the control interface forms a substantially flatupper surface and wherein the at least a first illumination devicetransmits light around a periphery of the flat upper surface. In atleast some embodiments the method further includes the step of, whilethe video information from the video source is provided to the shareddisplay screen via the switching device, when the selectable controlinterface is selected a second time, causing the at least one indicatorto indicate the first state and blocking the video information from thevideo source to the shared display screen via the switching device.

In at least some cases the method is for use with a system that includesa plurality of common display screens wherein the selectable controlinterface includes a separate selectable control for each of theplurality of display screens and wherein the at least one indicatorincludes a separate illumination device for each of the separateselectable controls, the step of causing the at least one indicator toindicate the first state including causing each illumination deviceassociated with a common display screen to generate light of a firstcolor indicating the first state and wherein, when any one of thecontrol interfaces is selected, the method further includes the steps ofcausing the illumination device associated with the selected control toindicate the second state and providing the video information from thevideo source to the common display screen associated with the selectedcontrol.

In at least some embodiments the method further includes the steps ofproviding a second selectable control interface that includes at leastone indicator that can indicate at least first and second differentstates, associating a second video source with the switching device sothat video information from the second video source is presented to theswitching device, when the second video source is associated with theswitching device, causing the at least one indicator on the secondcontrol interface to indicate the first state and when the secondselectable control interface is selected, causing the at least oneindicator on the second control interface to indicate the second stateand providing the video information from the second video source to thecommon display screen via the switching device irrespective of whichsource was providing video information to the common display screenprior to selection of the second selectable control interface device.

In some embodiments the video source is a computer including a displayscreen and wherein the control interface appears on the computer displayscreen for selection. In some embodiments communication between thecomputer and the switching device is wireless.

Other embodiments include a method of selecting information from a videosource to be displayed on a subset of M common display screens in acollaborative workspace having a switching device, the method comprisingthe steps of providing a control interface that includes N selectablecontrols wherein N is at least as great as M and wherein each control isassociated with a separate indicator and each indicator may assume atleast first and second visually distinguishable states, associating avideo source with the switching device so that video information fromthe video source is presented to the switching device and when the videosource is associated with the switching device, causing a separateindicator for each of the M common display screens to assume the secondvisual state while the other N-M indicators remain in the first visualstate.

In some embodiments each control includes a separate illumination devicewhich may be illuminated to indicate at least one of the first andsecond states. In some embodiments each control indicates the secondstate by exciting an associated illumination device and indicates thefirst state by cutting off power to the illumination device. In someembodiments each of the indicators may assume a third visuallydistinguishable state, the method further including the steps of, whenany of the selectable controls is selected, causing the indicatorassociated with the selected control to indicate the third state andproviding the video information from the video source to the commondisplay screen via the switching device.

In some embodiments the control interface is provided via arepresentation on a computer display screen. In some embodiments thestep of providing a control interface includes providing a mechanicalinterface that includes a cable and wherein the step of associating avideo source with the switching device includes linking the video sourceto the mechanical interface via a cable.

Still other embodiments include an apparatus for selecting informationfrom a video source to be displayed on at least a first common displayscreen in a collaborative workspace having a switching device, theapparatus comprising a control interface that includes at least a firstindicator that can visually indicate at least first, second and thirdvisually distinguished states wherein the control interface indicatesthe first state when a video source is disassociated with the switchingdevice, the second state when the video source is associated with theswitching device and video information from the video source is notpresented via the common display and the third state when the videosource is associated with the switching device and video informationfrom the video source is presented via the common display.

In some embodiments the at least a first indicator includes anillumination device and wherein the first state is indicated by cuttingpower to the illumination device, the second state is indicated viaillumination of a first color and the second state is indicated viaillumination of a second color. In some embodiments the controlinterface includes at least a first selectable control which, whenselected, causes the video information from the video source to bepresented via the common display and causes the indicator to change fromthe first state to the second state.

Other embodiments include an apparatus for selecting information from avideo source to be displayed on a subset of M common display screens ina collaborative workspace having a switching device, the apparatuscomprising a control interface that includes N selectable controlswherein N is at least as great as M and wherein each control isassociated with a separate indicator and each indicator may assume atleast first and second visually distinguishable states, wherein, when avideo source is not associated with the switching device, each indicatorindicates the first state and, when a video source is associated withthe switching device, a separate indicator for each of the M commondisplay screens assumes the second state while the other N-M indicatorsremain in the first state.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described. The followingdescription and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certainillustrative aspects of the invention. However, these aspects areindicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles ofthe invention can be employed. Other aspects, advantages and novelfeatures of the invention will become apparent from the followingdetailed description of the invention when considered in conjunctionwith the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collaborative conference tableconfiguration having four display screens in accordance with at leastsome aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a portion of the configuration shown in FIG. 1,albeit where a switcher and other components and cables that aretypically hidden under the top surface of FIG. 1 are shown inperspective views;

FIG. 3 includes a top plan view, end views and a side view of theswitcher shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing one of the puck controlassemblies that comprises a portion of the configurations shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustrating components of an exemplary controlinterface/puck;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustrating the puck control assembly of FIG. 4and a power on button in the first state after the power on button hasbeen selected to cause the system to begin operation;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustrating an exemplary screen shotcorresponding to a portion of an instructional video that may bepresented via one or more of the displays shown in FIG. 1 after thepower on button is selected;

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, albeit illustrating a different portion ofthe instructional video;

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 7, albeit illustrating yet a different portionof the instructional video;

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 6, albeit illustrating the state of the puckwhen a laptop is initially connected thereto;

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10, albeit illustrating the state of the puckafter a selection button corresponding to one of the display screens ofFIG. 1 has been selected;

FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 11, albeit illustrating the puck conditionafter three buttons corresponding to three of the display screens shownin FIG. 1 have been selected;

FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 1, albeit illustrating another configurationembodiment as consistent with at least some aspects of the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 is similar to FIG. 10, albeit illustrating the puck conditionfor the system of FIG. 12 where the system only includes two displays;

FIG. 15 is similar to FIG. 1, albeit illustrating a system that includesa wireless access device so that laptops and other video/audio sourcescan link provide data to the displays wirelessly;

FIG. 16 shows a puck “widget” that may be presented via a laptop displayscreen;

FIG. 17 shows a puck “widget” provided on a touch sensitive palm typecomputing device;

FIG. 18 is similar to FIG. 16, albeit showing a different appearingvirtual control interface; and

FIG. 19 is similar to FIG. 15, albeit where a mechanical interface isincluded for use with a source.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a conferencing table assembly that isconsistent with at least some aspects of the present invention:

FIG. 21 is a side of plan view of the conferencing table assembly ofFIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a front plan view of the conferencing table assembly of FIG.20;

FIG. 23 is a top plan view of the conferencing table assembly of FIG.20;

FIG. 24 is a partially exploded perspective view of the conference tableassembly of FIG. 20;

FIG. 25 is a partially exploded side plan view of the conferencing tableof FIG. 20;

FIG. 26 is an exploded view of the retractor assembly shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a partially exploded view of the retractor assembly of FIG.26;

FIG. 28 is a partially exploded view of the deck assembly of FIG. 24;

FIG. 29 is a top plan view of the cable tie bracket shown in FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a top plan view of the deck member of FIG. 28;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of an exemplary handset and cable assemblyincluding video and audio cables and jacks;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the deck assembly shown in FIG. 28;

FIG. 33 is a partial cross sectional view showing the wire managementassembly installed in a leg cavity with a single handset in a stowedposition;

FIG. 34 is similar to FIG. 33, albeit showing the single handset pulledout of a cavity;

FIG. 35 is similar to FIG. 33, albeit showing the handset in a useposition with a cavity door member in a closed position;

FIG. 36 is an exploded view of the totem/display assembly shown in FIG.20;

FIG. 37 is an exploded view of the bridge assembly of FIG. 20;

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a two display conferencing table;

FIG. 39 is a cross sectional view of a handset that includes LEDs forsignaling different conditions;

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of yet another table assembly that isconsistent with at least some aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 41 is a front plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 40;

FIG. 42 is similar to FIG. 41, albeit showing the assembly with varioushousing components removed;

FIG. 43 is a side plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 40;

FIG. 44 is a perspective showing a wire management assembly that formspart of the assembly shown in FIG. 40;

FIG. 45 is a perspective view showing a sub-set of the housingcomponents shown in FIG. 44;

FIG. 46 is a perspective view showing handsets, associated cables andpulleys used to form part of the assembly shown in FIG. 44;

FIG. 47 is a front perspective view of the sub-assembly of FIG. 46,albeit without data jacks; and

FIG. 48 is a perspective view of a wire management system including asingle on/off button.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures wherein like reference numerals correspondto similar elements throughout the several views and more specifically,referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, one embodiment of a collaborativeworkspace configuration 10 that is consistent with at least some aspectsof the present invention is illustrated. Workspace configuration 10includes a display system 12 and a conference table assembly 14. Variousmechanical aspects of configuration 10 are described in co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/250,192 that was filed on Oct. 13, 2008and is titled “Conference Table Assembly” and which is incorporatedherein by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/250,192 hasissued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,074,581 and discloses the following:

Small group (e.g., 4 to 8 attendees) conference tables have beendesigned that include one or more large display screens adjacent a tabletop edge or wall mounted or ceiling hung display or projection screensoffset a distance from a table top edge. Here, the idea has been toprovide information at or near a table edge for attendees to refer toduring discussions and presentations. In many cases attendees uselaptops or other digital information sources to drive the informationpresented via the display. To enable laptops to be powered and to accessnetwork data, power and data receptacles are often provided withinconference tables (e.g., below grommet doors or covers that are flushwith the top surface of a table top). A laptop user typically uses herown power and data cables to link to the receptacles. In addition,conference rooms are often equipped with audio and video cables to linka laptop to a display or to a projector for controlling presentedinformation.

In many cases it is desirable to allow several attendees to controldisplayed information at different times during a conference. One way toallow several attendees to present information via a display is tosequentially have each presenter link to the display or projector viathe audio and video cables. Here, transitions between presenters taketime and are extremely disruptive.

One other way to allow several attendees to present is to provideseparate audio and video cables for each presenter and a switcher devicethat enables each of the attendees to take control of the display screenvia selection of a button associated with the presenters audio and videocables. One such switcher/cable/button assembly of this type is theDTS-TS8 switcher assembly by Elecom that provides eight separateaudio/video cable assemblies and eight associated buttons along with aswitcher that has eight input ports and one screen output port.

While a switcher and associated cables enable relatively quicktransitions between presenters, these solutions typically require alarge number of cables to be strewn across the top surface of aconference table. To this end, in addition to audio and video cables,power and data cables are often disposed on the top surface of theconference table and the garble of cables is unsightly and impedes useof the table top for other purposes (e.g., laying out of papers, etc.).

In addition, because the source selection buttons and associated audioand video cables are needed to interface with the switcher, these cablesare typically kept with the switcher. For instance, where a switcher isto be used in a specific conference room, the audio/video/control cables(e.g., eight) are typically kept in the specific conference room andusually will be left linked to the switcher device for subsequent use.Thus, when audio/video/control cables are not being used (e.g., after aconference has been completed), the cables often remain strewn across atable top and the overall scene is unsightly.

Some conference table power and data/communication cable managementsolutions have been developed. To this end, cable systems have beendeveloped that include spring loaded cable dispensers for dispensingnetwork communication types cables (e.g., CAT-5 cables) for use at aconference table. Here, a dispenser housing is provided that mounts tothe top surface of a table top or the like and a plurality (e.g., 8) ofcable dispensers are mounted within the housing. One end of each cablecan be pulled against the force or the spring out of each dispenser andplugged into a laptop. When a cable is not in use, the cable can beretracted via the spring force back into the dispenser and housing.While this solution works well for relatively thin communication typecables, this solution has several shortcomings. First, because thedispenser housing is located on top of the table top, the housing isalways observable and reduces the elegance of an associated conferencetable and space. Second, where larger diameter cables such as audio andvideo cables are used, a simple spring loaded dispenser may need to berelatively large and the spring force would have to be relatively highto accomplish the retracting activity and therefore the overall size ofthe dispensing system would have to be increased appreciably. Thus, aspring loaded table top mounted dispensing system is not practical formany applications and, at best, solves the data cable management problemin a relatively unsightly manner.

In addition, conference tables are known that include power and datareceptacles mounted below a table top member where the top member formsopenings for passing cables for receptacle hookup and where cablereceiving and retaining cavities have been formed adjacent thereceptacles for receiving and storing excess power and data cablelengths. Thus, for instance, where a data cable is ten feet long but alaptop is positioned on a table top surface three feet from a dataport/receptacle, the seven additional feet of cable can be tucked awayin the cable receiving cavity under the top member.

After a conference has been completed, power and data cables often areremoved from the conference space. To this end, currently most laptopcomputers come with their own power and data cables and thereforeattendees plug in to receptacles using their own power and data cableswhich are removed after use. Thus, in most cases power and data cablesdo not pose an aesthetic problem when a conference is not beingconducted within a conference space.

Thus, while solutions for managing power and data cables have beendeveloped, similar solutions have not been developed foraudio/video/control cables that form part of a switcher system and thattypically remain within a conference space along with a switcher deviceafter a conference has been completed.

It has been recognized that a storage space can be provided below atable top opening for receiving control cables when the cables are notin use or to receive portions of control cables that are not in use. Ithas also been recognized that a weight of some type can be linked toeach of the control cables below the top surface where the weight tendsto pull the cable into the space below the table top to aid a cable userin moving the cable back into the space when not in use. Moreover, ithas been recognized that the weight can substantially automatically takeup any slack in a control cable between a handset that includes acontrol button and the table top opening so that excess cable is removedfrom the table top surface.

The handset can be constructed to be relatively heavy so that thehandset can be placed on the table top surface and remain in itsdisposed position despite the weight tending to pull the handset andcable back into the storage space. Also, to this end, the handset mayinclude rubber or tacky plastic strips or foot members on anundersurface to help maintain the position of the handset afterplacement on a work surface or the like. Moreover, the handset mayinclude rubber strips or the like on a side or circumferential surfaceto help retain the handset in a receiving cavity during storage. Thehandset may, in some cases, include audio and/or video jacks that can belinked to a laptop computer or the like. Here, the handset weight servesthe additional purpose of reducing force applied to laptop audio andvideo jacks. In at least some cases a deck member may be provided in thespace below the table top member and on which the handsets can be placedand supported when not in use and door members may be provided tosubstantially cover (e.g., leave a slot open along one or more edges forcables to pass through) the opening when desired.

Consistent with the above, at least some at least some embodiments ofthe invention include a conferencing assembly for use with at least onecomputer, the assembly comprising a table top member having top andbottom surfaces and forming a table top opening, a leg support structuresupporting the top member is a substantially horizontal orientation, adisplay screen associated with the top member and supported adjacent thetop surface, a switcher for controlling input to the display screen, aplurality of handsets, each hand set including a selector button usableto send a signal to the switcher thereby causing the switcher to link acomputer associated with the selector button to the display, a pluralityof handset cables, each handset cable having first and second endslinked to the switcher and an associated selector button, respectively,for passing signals from the selector buttons to the switcher, a take upassembly including a separate weight for each of the handset cables, thetake up assembly disposed below the top member and aligned with thetable top opening, each handset cable linked to an associated weight,each weight applying a force tending to pull the second end of theassociated handset cable into the opening.

In at least some cases each weight includes a pulley wheel, each handsetcable passing around an associated pulley wheel. In at least some caseseach weight further includes first and second plates mounted on oppositesides of the pulley wheel. In at least some cases the plates are mountedto the pulley wheel axis via a pin.

In at least some cases the assembly further includes a guide structure,the guide structure forming a separate substantially vertical channelfor each of the pulley wheels, each pulley wheel moving up and downwithin a channel as the second end of an associated cable is pulled awayfrom and allowed to move toward the opening, respectively. In at leastsome cases the assembly includes at least four separate handsets. In atleast some cases the take up assembly further includes a deck memberhaving a top deck surface below the top surface of the table top member,the deck member forming a separate opening for each of the handsets,each cable passing through a separate one of the openings formed by thedeck member, the handsets received on the deck surface of the deckmember thereby limiting downward movement through the opening formed bythe deck member.

In at least some cases the deck surface forms a recess proximate each ofthe openings formed by the deck member, each recess formed to receive anassociated one of the handsets. In at least some cases the deck surfaceis substantially parallel to the top surface of the table top member. Inat least some cases the assembly further includes at least one utilitywall member extending upward from the deck surface below the table topmember and at least one of a power and a data receptacle mounted in thewall member for access through the table top opening.

In at least some cases the assembly further includes a utility islandextending upward from the deck surface, the utility wall forming acircumferential wall about the island, the island further including atop mounting surface that is substantially parallel to the top surfaceof the table top member. In at least some cases the island includes atleast first, second, third and fourth receptacles, the first and secondreceptacles facing in substantially opposite directions and the thirdand fourth receptacles facing in substantially opposite directions. Inat least some cases the assembly further includes first and second doormembers hingedly mounted to the mounting surface for movement betweenopen and closed positions, each door member including a top doorsurface, when the door members are in the closed positions, the doormembers substantially closing the table top opening and the doorsurfaces substantially flush with the top surface of the table topmember. In at least some cases an opening edge defines the shape of thetable top opening, the door members forming a gap with the opening edgewhen in the closed positions.

In at least some cases the deck member has a circumferential edge, theassembly further including a well wall member extending upward from thecircumferential edge of the deck member to the bottom of the table topmember so that the deck and the well wall member form a cavity below thetable top member for receiving cables and the like. In at least somecases each handset cable further includes a video cable and each handsetfurther includes a video jack proximate the button for linking to anassociated computer.

In at least some cases each handset cable further includes an audiocable and each handset further includes an audio jack proximate thebutton for linking to an associated computer. In at least some caseseach handset weighs at least one pound.

Some embodiments include a conferencing assembly for use with at leastone computer, the assembly comprising a table top member having top andbottom surfaces and forming a table top opening, a leg support structuresupporting the top member is a substantially horizontal orientation, adisplay screen associated with the top member and supported adjacent thetop surface, a switcher for controlling input to the display screen, aplurality of handsets, each hand set including a selector button usableto send a signal to the switcher thereby causing the switcher to link acomputer associated with the selector button to the display, a pluralityof handset cables, each handset cable having first and second endslinked to the switcher and an associated selector button, respectively,for passing signals from the selector buttons to the switcher, a deckmember having a top deck surface below the top surface of the table topmember and aligned with the table top opening, the deck member forming aseparate opening for each of the handsets, each handset cable passingthrough a separate one of the openings formed by the deck member, thehandsets received on the deck surface of the deck member therebylimiting downward movement through the openings formed by the deckmember and a take up assembly including a separate pulley wheel for eachof the handset cables, the take up assembly disposed below the deckmember, each handset cable linked to an associated pulley wheel, eachpulley wheel applying a force tending to pull the second end of theassociated handset cable toward the deck top.

In some embodiments the leg support structure forma a leg cavity, thedeck member and take up assembly disposed within the leg cavity. In someembodiments the switcher is also disposed within the leg cavity. Someembodiments further include a totem assembly and a bridge member, thetotem assembly having top and bottom ends and a mounting surface, thetotem disposed adjacent the top member with the mounting surface abovethe top surface of the table top member, the bridge member having firstand second ends secured to the leg support structure and the totemassembly, respectively, the display screen mounted to the mountingsurface adjacent the top surface of the table top member.

Other embodiments include a conferencing assembly for use with at leastone computer, the assembly comprising a table top member having top andbottom surfaces and forming a table top opening, a leg support structuresupporting the top member is a substantially horizontal orientation, adisplay screen associated with the top member and supported adjacent thetop surface, a switcher for controlling input to the display screen, aplurality of handsets, each hand set including a selector button usableto send a signal to the switcher thereby causing the switcher to link acomputer associated with the selector button to the display, a pluralityof handset cables, each handset cable having first and second endslinked to the switcher and an associated selector button, respectively,for passing signals from the selector buttons to the switcher and a deckmember having a top deck surface below the top surface of the table topmember and aligned with the table top opening, the deck member forming aseparate opening for each of the handsets, each handset cable passingthrough a separate one of the openings formed by the deck member, thehandsets received on the deck surface of the deck member therebylimiting downward movement through the openings formed by the deckmember.

Some cases further include a take up assembly including a separateweight for each of the handset cables, the take up assembly disposedbelow the deck member, each handset cable linked to an associatedweight, each weight applying a force tending to pull the second end ofthe associated handset cable toward the deck top.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described. The followingdescription and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certainillustrative aspects of the invention. However, these aspects areindicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles ofthe invention can be employed. Other aspects, advantages and novelfeatures of the invention will become apparent from the followingdetailed description of the invention when considered in conjunctionwith the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals correspondto similar elements throughout the several views and, more specifically,referring to FIGS. 20-25, the present invention will be described in thecontext of an exemplary conferencing table configuration or assembly1010 including a table assembly 1012, a totem/display assembly 1014 anda bridge assembly 1016. Table assembly 1012 includes a leg supportstructure 1018, a table top member 1020 and wire management assembly1024. Referring also to FIGS. 25 and 33, leg support structure 1018includes vertical leg members 1076, horizontal foot members 1080, a footrail 1022, horizontal shoulder members 1077 and a top plate 1079. In atleast some embodiments, four vertical leg members 1076 are provided(only two illustrated) and the leg members are spaced apart to form arectilinear leg cavity 1082. Four foot members 1080 extend from thevertical leg members 1076 or other leg structural components (e.g.,horizontal members that extend between bottom ends of the vertical legmembers 1076) in four opposite directions that provide stability to theleg members 1076 and other assembly components thereabove. Foot rail1022 is mounted to the top ends of vertical standoffs (not labeled) thatextend up from distal ends of the foot members 1080 and, in theillustrated embodiment, forms a generally square shaped foot rest thatcircumscribes and is spaced apart from the vertical leg members 1076.

The top plate 1079 is a rigid rectilinear member that forms a squareplate opening 1081 (see FIG. 33 specifically). Top plate 1079 is mountedvia welding or mechanical fasteners to the top ends of vertical legmember 1076 opposite foot members 1080 with the plate opening 1081aligned with leg cavity 1082 there below. Although not illustrated orseparately labeled, top plate 1079 forms a plurality of screw holes forpassing screws used to mount other assembly components thereto. Screwsare used to secure shoulder members 1077 to a top surface 1085 of topplate 1079. Once shoulder members 1077 are secured to top plate 1079,internal surfaces 1083 of shoulder members 1077 and the top surface 1085of top plate 1079 form a separate well or cavity 1069 (see FIG. 33) thatresides generally above leg cavity 1082.

In at least some embodiments, leg housing member 1030 is a three-sidedleg structure that can be slid over and mechanically fasten to thevertical leg members 1076 to enclose the leg channel 1082.

Referring once again to FIGS. 20-24, table top member 1020 is arectilinear, planar and rigid member having top and bottom surfaces 1021and 1023, respectively. Referring also to FIG. 33, top member 1020 formsa central substantially rectilinear opening 1027.

Referring now to FIG. 24, wire management assembly 1024 includes firstand second door or cover members 1025 and 1026, respectively, a deckassembly 1045 and a retractor assembly 1052. Referring also to FIGS. 26,27 and 33, retractor assembly 1052 includes a first slotted wall member1054, a second slotted wall member 1056, a first end wall member 1058, asecond end wall member 1060, a first bottom plate or bracket 1062, asecond bottom plate or bracket 1064, seven separate divider memberscollectively identified by numeral 1066, six separate pulley/weightassembly collectively identified by numeral 1068, a first slopedmounting bracket 1070, a second sloped mounting bracket 1072 and aplurality of screws for securing the retractor assembly componentstogether, at least a subset of the screws collectively identified bynumeral 1100. The first and second slotted wall members 1054 and 1056are similarly constructed and operate in a similar fashion andtherefore, in the interest of simplifying this explanation, only thesecond slotted wall member 1056 which is best shown in FIG. 26 will beshown here in detail. Slotted wall member 1056 is generally a rigidrectilinear member including an external surface (not labeled) and anoppositely facing internal surface 1103 as well as top and bottom ends1104 and 1106, respectively, and first and second lateral edges 1108 and1110, respectively. As the label implies, member 1056 forms a pluralityof slots collectively identified by numeral 1102 in internal surface1103. Each slot 1102 is a straight slot that extends from the top end1104 to the bottom end 1106 of member 1056 and all of the slots 1102 areparallel to a length dimension of member 1056. In addition, member 1056forms threaded openings along each of the top, bottom, first lateral andsecond lateral edges for receiving shafts of screws to facilitatefastening of other retractor assembly components.

Referring still to FIGS. 26 and 27, each of the first and second endwall members 1058 and 1060 is similarly constructed and operates in asimilar fashion and therefore, only end wall 1058 will be described inany detail. Wall member 1058 is a flat, rigid and rectilinear memberthat forms mounting openings (not labeled) along first and secondlateral edges. The mounting openings formed by member 1058 align withthe threaded shaft receiving openings formed in first lateral edge 1108of member 1056 when wall member 1058 is placed adjacent edge 1108.

Referring yet again to FIGS. 26 and 27, first bottom plate or bracket1062 is an elongated flat and rigid bracket that has a length dimensionsubstantially equal to a width dimension of slotted wall member 1056between the lateral edges 1108 and 1110 of member 1056 and formsopenings for passing screws for attaching member 1064 to bottom edge1106 of member 1056. Similarly, second bracket 1062 is a rectilinearrigid bracket having a length dimension equal to a width dimension offirst slotted wall member 1054.

Divider members 1066 are rigid rectilinear members that each havethickness dimension substantially equal to a width dimension of one ofthe slots 1102 formed by member 1056 so that a lateral edge of eachdivider member 1066 is receivable within one of the slots 1102. Dividermembers 1066 have length dimensions substantially equal to a lengthdimension of slotted wall member 1056 and have a width dimension suchthat, when retractor assembly 1052 is assembled, each divider member1066 traverses the distance between slotted wall member 1054 and 1056with lateral edges of each of members 1066 received in oppositely facingslots formed by slotted wall members 1054 and 1056. Each divider member,in at least some embodiments, may be formed as a thin Plexiglas member.

Referring once again to FIGS. 26 and 27, each of the pulley/weightassemblies 1068 is similarly constructed and operates in a similarfashion and therefore, in the interest of simplifying this explanation,only one of the weight assemblies 1068 will be described in some detail.Referring specifically to FIG. 26, an exemplary weight assembly 1068includes a pulley wheel 1118, first and second weight plates 1120 and1122, respectively, and three post members, one of which is identifiedby numeral 1121. Pulley wheel 1118 forms an annular cable receivingchannel 1123 and a central hole (not labeled). Each of plates 1120 and1122 is a generally triangular rigid plate and forms three openings, oneat each of the corners of the plate. In at least some embodiments,plates 1120 and 1122 are formed of thick sheet metal so that they arerelatively heavy. One corner of each plate is mounted to pulley wheel1118 via one of the posts 1121 that passes through each of the plates1120 and 1122 and through the central pulley wheel opening. The othertwo corners of the plates 1120 and 1122 are mounted via the other twoposts 1121 below the circumferential edge of pulley wheel 1118. Theplates 1120 and 1122 are mounted to wheel 1118 in a loose fit manner sothat as the wheel 1118 turns, the plates 1120 and 1122 together hangdown therefrom.

Each of the sloped mounting brackets 1070 and 1072 is similarlyconstructed and operate in a similar fashion and therefore, in theinterest of simplifying this explanation, only mounting bracket 1070will be described here in detail. Bracket 1070 includes an intermediateguide plate 1112, a first mounting plate 1114, and a second mountingplate 1116, where the plates 1112, 1114 and 1116 is integrally formed,preferably from bent sheet metal. First mounting plate 1114 is anelongated plate that forms openings for passing fastening screws.Similarly, second mounting plate 1116 is an elongated plate memberforming openings for passing fastening screws. Intermediate plate 1112is a flat planar member that traverses the distance between one of theelongated edges of plate member 1114 and one of the elongated edges ofplate member 1116. As best seen in FIG. 33, plates 1114 and 1116 aresubstantially perpendicular while plate 1112 forms an angle with each ofplates 1114 and 1116.

Referring once again to FIGS. 26, 27 and 33, to assemble retractorassembly 1052, bottom plate/bracket 1064 is secured to the bottom edge1106 of slotted wall member 1056. Similarly, bottom plate/bracket 1064is secured to a bottom edge of slotted wall member 1054. The first andsecond sloped mounting brackets 1070 and 1072 are secured, via screws orother mechanical fasteners, to the internal surfaces (e.g., see 1103 inFIG. 26) of slotted wall members 1056 and 1054, respectively, near thetop edges (e.g., see 1104 in FIG. 26) thereof. First end wall 1058 andsecond end wall 1060 are secured via screws 1100 to the first and secondlateral edges 1108 and 1110 of wall member 1056 and so that end wallmembers 1058 and 1060 extend in the same direction. The subassemblyincluding sloped mounting bracket 1072, slotted wall member 1054 andbracket 1062 are next positioned between the distal elongated edges ofwall members 1058 and 1060 and the subassembly is fastened at thatlocation via screws 1100.

Referring still to FIGS. 26 and 27, divider members 1066 are next slidinto the oppositely facing slots 1102 formed by slotted wall members1056 and 1054. Here, it should be appreciated that the bottomplates/brackets 1062 and 1064 stop the divider members 1066 from slidingcompletely through the other assembled components. At this point theretractor assembly components already assembled form six separate pulleywheel/weight receiving channels collectively identified by numeral 1124(see FIG. 27).

Referring now to FIGS. 28, 29 and 30, deck assembly 1045 includes a deckmember 1046, six separate hand sets collectively identified by numeral1048, control cables collectively identified by numeral 1050 and a cabletie bracket 1178. Deck member 1046 is a generally rectilinear rigidmember including first and second end edges 1155 and 1157, respectively,and first and second lateral edges 1159 and 1161, respectively. Deckmember 1046 forms a top deck surface 1152. A deck island 1154 extendsupward from top surface 1152. In the illustrated embodiment, island 1154is an elongated island that extends between first and second end edges1155 and 1157 and that is centrally spaced between lateral edges 1159and 1161. Island 1154 is formed by a circumferential wall 1160including, generally, first, second, third and fourth substantiallyupright wall members 1170, 1172, 1174 and 1176 (see specifically FIG.30) and a top wall that forms a top mounting surface 1162. First andsecond island wall members 1170 and 1172 are substantially flush withdeck edges 1155 and 1157, respectively, and face in opposite directions.Wall members 1174 and 1176 slant slightly toward each other from topdeck surface 1152 toward the top mounting surface 1162 and generallyface in opposite directions. Mounting surface 1162 is substantiallyparallel to deck top surface 1152. The island walls 1170, 1172, 1174 and1176 together form an internal cavity (not illustrated or labeled) inwhich power and data receptacle boxes or hardware may be mounted. Eachwall member 1170, 1172, 1174 and 1176 forms at least one opening forreceiving a power and/or data outlet connector. In the illustratedembodiment, each of walls 1170 and 1172 forms a single opening for apower outlet (see 1166 in FIG. 28) while each of walls 1174 and 1176forms four substantially equi-spaced power outlets 1166 and three dataoutlets, two of which are collectively identified by numeral 1168.Island hinge members 1164 are formed or fastened to the top mountingsurface 1162 for connecting the door members 1025 and 1026 in a mannerto be described in more detail below.

Referring now to FIGS. 28 and 30, the top surface 1152 of deck 1046forms six separate deck handset cavities collectively identified bynumeral 1156. Three of the handset cavities 1156 are provided betweenisland 1154 and lateral edge 1161 while the other three handset cavities1156 are provided between island 1154 and other lateral edge 1159. Eachof cavities 1156 is dimension and, in at least some embodiments, shaped,to snuggly receive one of the handsets 1048 when the handset is in astowed position. Deck member 1046 also forms a cable passing opening1158 in each of the handset cavities 1156 for, as the label implies,passing one of the handset cables 1050.

Referring specifically to FIG. 30, the cable passing openings betweenisland 1154 and edge 1159 are offset from or staggered between theopenings between island 1154 and edge 1161. Thus, in FIG. 30 observethat openings 1158 adjacent edge 1159 are formed in the top portion ofassociated cavities 1156 as illustrated while the openings 1158 adjacentedge 1161 are formed in the bottom portion of associated cavities 1156.In addition, at each of its four corners, deck member 1046 forms a screwpassing opening, one of which is identified by numeral 1165 in FIG. 28.In at least some embodiments deck member 1046 is formed of moldedplastic material.

Referring still to FIG. 28 and also to FIG. 29, cable tie bracket 1178is a rigid bracket, preferably formed of bent sheet metal, that includesa first mounting flange plate 1180, a second mounting flange plate 1182,an intermediate floor member 1184, a first wall member 1186 and a secondwall member 1188. The mounting flange plates 1180 and 1812 are eachelongated rectilinear members that form screw passing openings and arearranged to be co-planar and substantially parallel to each other andspaced apart from each other. Wall member 1186 is a rectilinearelongated member and is integrally formed along one of its long edgeswith one of the long edges of the first flange plate 1180. Wall member1186 forms a right angle with flange plate 1180. Similarly, wall member1188 is an elongated rectilinear member that is mounted along one of itslong edges to one of the long edges of flange plate 1182 and forms aright angle with plate 1182.

Intermediate floor member 1184 is a rigid rectilinear member havingopposite edges linked to edges of wall member 1186 and 1188 oppositeplates 1180 and 1182. Thus, facing surfaces of wall members 1186 and1188 and a top surface of intermediate wall member 1184 form a cavity orchannel. Three slots (two of which are identified by numeral 1190) areformed in flange plate 1180, first wall member 1186 and an adjacentportion of intermediate floor member 1184 where each of the three slotsis continuous through members 1180 and 1186 and passes into a portion ofintermediate wall member 1184. Similarly, three slots 1192 are formedcontinuously through flange plate 1184, wall member 1188 and a portionof intermediate floor member 1184. The slots 1190 and 1192 areinterleaved with each other so that, when bracket 1178 is mounted to anundersurface of deck member 1046, slots 1192 align with deck openings1158 thereabove that are formed between island 1154 and lateral edge1159 and slots 1190 align the deck openings 1158 thereabove that arebetween island 1154 and lateral edge 1161. In other words, slots 1190align with deck openings 1158 formed on an opposite side of island 1154and slots 1192 align with deck openings 1158 formed on an opposite sideof island 1154.

Referring to FIGS. 28 and 29, half dome bars 1194 and 1196 are securedto a top surface of floor member 1184 approximately midway along thelengths of the portions of slots 1190 and 1192 formed in floor member1184 so that distal ends of the slots 1190 and 1192 are open and formexit ports 1198 and 1200. As the label implies, each half dome bar 1194and 1196 forms a smooth half dome surface and has a half dome crosssectional shape.

Referring again to FIG. 28, each of the handsets 1048 is similarlyconstructed and operates in a similar fashion and therefore, in theinterest of simplifying this explanation, the handsets 1048 will only begenerally described. An exemplary hand set 1048 includes an annularhandset housing member 1142 and a button 1144 mounted to the housing1142. The button 1144 can be pressed to provide a signal to a switcherbox (see 1084 in FIG. 33). Referring still to FIG. 28, on anundersurface of the housing 1142 opposite the button 1144, aslip-resistant pad 1145 is adhered to, as the label implies, impedesliding of the handset 1048 when the undersurface 1145 is placed on asupporting work surface or the like. The slip resistant pad 1145 may beformed of plastic or rubber type material. In at least some embodimentseach handset 1048 is constructed to be relatively heavy (e.g., on theorder of one-half to two pounds and generally around one to one andone-half pounds) so that when the handset is pulled into a use position,the handset weight will generally retain the handset in the use positionuntil affirmatively replaced in the well 1069. Each of the cables 1050has first and second ends 1146 and 1148, respectively. The first end1146 is linked to an associated handset 1048 while a connector jack 1150is secured at the second end 1148.

In at least some embodiments, referring also to FIG. 31, in addition toincluding wires for transmitting select type signals from the handset1142, the cable 1050 will include a video cable 1210 and an audio cable1212 that split off from other portions of the cable 1050 proximate thehandset end thereof. As shown in FIG. 31, a video jack 1214 and an audiojack 1216 are provided at distal ends of the cables 1210 and 1212,respectively, for linkage to a laptop computer or the like. Although notshown, in at least some cases, video and audio cables will split offfrom the control cable at the end of cable 1050 opposite handset 1048and jacks will be provided at that other end for linking to the switcherbox 1084. In still other embodiments, the audio and video cables may bereplaced by digital transfer data cables such as USB cables or the likethat can carry audio, video and other data types such as control signalsfrom the handsets to the switcher device 1084.

Referring yet again to FIG. 28, door members 1025 and 1026 aresubstantially rectilinear, rigid and flat members, each of whichincludes a top surface and an oppositely facing bottom surface.Together, the door members 1035 and 1026 form a shape that issubstantially similar to the shape of table top opening 1027, albeithaving slightly smaller width and length dimensions than opening 1027 tothat, when the door members 1025 and 1026 are in a closed position asshown in FIG. 33, gaps G exist between adjacent edges of the doormembers 1025 and 1026 and the edge that forms opening 1027. The gaps Gare sized such that cables 1050 can pass therethrough while the doors1025 and 1026 are closed (see also FIG. 35 in this regard).

Referring yet again to FIG. 28, the assembly also includes first andsecond hinge plates 1130 and 1132. Each of the hinge plates 1130 and1132 is similarly constructed and operates in a similar fashion andtherefore, in the interest of simplifying this explanation, only hingeplate 1130 will be described here in detail. Plate 1130 is a rigidrectilinear and flat member that forms a top surface 1134, a rear edge1140 and a central rectilinear opening 1138. A hinge member 1136 isintegrally formed or attached to an undersurface of member 1130 adjacentrear edge 1140. The hinge member 1136 is designed to cooperate withhinge members 1164 and hinge pins 1169 to secure plate 1130 to the topmounting surface 1162 of island 1154.

To assemble deck assembly 1045, screws (not illustrated) are used tomount bracket 1178 to an undersurface of deck member 1046 with the slots1190 and 1192 aligned with openings 1158 formed by deck member 1046.Next, door members 1025 and 1026 are secured to the top surfaces (e.g.,1134) of hinge plates 1130 and 1132 via adhesive or some type ofmechanical fastener. Pins 1069 are used to secure hinge members 1136 onplates 1130 and 1132 to hinge members 1164 on the top mounting surface1162 so that door members 1025 and 1026 extend above separate halves ofthe deck top surface 1152.

Referring now to FIGS. 27, 28 and 33, assembly continues as follows. Oneof the handsets/cable subassemblies is aligned with one of the handsetcavities 1156 and the distal end 1148 of the handsets/cable subassemblyis passed through the aligned cable passing opening 1158.

Referring still to FIGS. 27, 28 and 33, the distal end 1148 of the cable1050 is next looped around the pulley wheel (see 1118 in FIG. 26) of oneof the pulley/weight assemblies 1068 and is fed back to toward bracket1178 and through an aligned one of the slots (e.g., 1190) and into thecavity formed by bracket 1178. The distal end 1148 of the cable 1050 islooped over the half-dome bar 1194 and is passed through and alignedexit port (e.g., 1198). The distal end 1148 is pulled through the exitport until a portion (e.g., one foot) thereof extends down below bracket1178. Continuing, a zip strip or other mechanical fastener is used tofasten the portion of cable 1050 adjacent half-dome bar 1194 to bracket1178 so that at least that portion of the cable 1050 is securelyattached to the bracket 1178. When the handset 1048 is received withinthe deck handset cavity 1156, pulley/weight assembly 1068 hangs downbelow bracket 1178 as shown in FIG. 33.

Continuing, referring still to FIGS. 27, 28 and 33, each of thehandset/cable subassemblies 1048 and 1050 is aligned with a separate oneof the handset cavities 1156, the distal ends of the cables are passedthrough the deck openings 1158 and looped around separate ones of thepulley wheels 1118 and back up through one of the slots 1190 or 1192into the bracket 1178 cavity and down through an associated one of theexit ports 1198 or 1200. Again, zip strips or other mechanical fastenersare used to secure intermediate portions of each of the cables 1050 tobracket 1178. Once each of the handsets/cable subassemblies has beensecured to the deck 1046 and bracket 1178, all of the pulley/weightassemblies 1068 should hang down below the bracket 1178 such thatadjacent pulley/weight assemblies 1068 are arranged in a substantiallyparallel fashion.

Continuing, referring specifically to FIG. 24, the subassembly includingthe deck assembly 1045, door members 1025 and 1026 and pulley/weightassemblies 1068 can be aligned above the already assembled components ofthe retractor assembly 1052 with each of the pulley/weight assemblies1068 aligned above a separate one of the channels 1124 (see also FIG.27). The deck assembly 1045 and other connecting components can be moveddown toward assembly 1052 so that each of the pulley/weight assemblies1068 slides down into one of the channels 1124 until an undersurface ofdeck member 1046 contacts mounting plates 1114 of the first and secondsloped mounting brackets 1070 and 1072, respectively (see also FIG. 26).Screws or other mechanical fasteners are used to secure the mountingplates 1114 to the undersurface of deck member 1046. At this point, theentire wire management assembly 1024 has been assembled.

Referring now to FIGS. 24 and 33, to secure the wire management assembly1024 to the leg support structure 1018, wire management assembly 1024 isaligned above the table top opening 1027 and is slid down into channel1082 until an undersurface of deck member 1046 contacts the top surface1085 of top plate 1079. Screws passing through deck member openings 1165(see also FIG. 28) are used to secure deck member 1046 to top surface1085. At this point, when door members 1025 and 1026 are in their closedpositions as shown in FIG. 33, top surfaces thereof should besubstantially flush with the top surface 1021 of table top member 1020and gaps G should exist between adjacent edges of door members 1025 and1026 and the edge forming opening 1027. Switcher device or control box1084 is mounted via a bracket 1098 (see also FIG. 25) between two of thevertical leg members 1076. Distal ends 1148 of the cables 1050 arelinked to separate ports of the switcher device 1084. Here, where one ofthe cables 1050 includes a control line in addition to audio and videocables, each of the control line and audio and video cables may belinked to separate ports on the switcher device 1084, albeit the videoand audio and control ports being associated by the switcher device1084.

Referring to FIG. 25, an output audio/video cable 1099 is linked to anoutput port of the switcher device 1084 at one end and to display 1036and, possibly, speakers or the like, at an opposite end.

Referring now to FIGS. 20, 25 and 36, the totem/display assembly 1014includes a totem 1028 and a display screen 1036. Totem 1035 includesstructural and exterior housing members, as the label implies, form anelongated vertical or upright totem having a bottom end 1032 and a topend 1034 that forms a front surface 1035. More specifically, totemassembly 1028 includes a vertical internal structural beam 1226, a fronthousing cover 1222, a rear housing cover 1224 and a display mountingplate 1228. Beam 1226 is an elongated rigid beam having top and bottomends 1234 and 1236, respectively, and forms a front surface 1232.Surface 1232 forms four apertures 1230 used to secure a structuralbridge member (see 1078 in FIG. 37) to beam 1226.

Plate 1228 is a rigid flat and rectilinear member mounted to frontsurface 1232 via welding or mechanical fasteners proximate top end 1234.

Cover 1226 is a flat, rigid and substantially rectilinear member thatforms an opening 1238 for passing one end of bridge structural member1278. Cover 1224 is generally an elongated C-shape in cross-section andincludes flanges along long edges thereof for securing front cover 1222.Covers 1222 and 1224 mount to beam 1228 via mechanical fasteners (notshown) to form the totem 1028 and form an internal cavity 1240 whenassembled. Display 1036 mounts to plate 1234. Display screen 1036includes a housing structure and a display front surface 1038. In atleast some embodiments, the totem/display assembly 1014 cannot stand inan upright position alone.

Referring still to FIG. 25 and also to FIG. 37, bridge assembly 1016includes a rigid elongated support member 1078 that is mechanicallyfastened via screws or the like or is welded to the vertical leg members1076 of leg support structure 1018 at one end and to the internalvertical structure beam 1226 of totem assembly 1028 at the opposite end.In the illustrated embodiment, beam 1078 includes first and secondmounting plates 1095 at opposite ends for securing to the leg assembly1018 and the totem structural beam 1226. In at least some embodiments,member 1078 is a metallic beam type member. Through member 1078, thetable leg structure 1018 provides additional support to totem assembly1028.

A cable trough forming bridge housing includes a top housing member1086, a bottom housing member 1092, first and second end shoes 1088 and1090, respectively, two side plates 1094 and a U-shaped bracket 1093.The top and bottom housing members 1086 and 1092 extend between the legstructure 1018 and totem assembly 1028 above and below beam member 1078and form a bridge channel 1096 there between (see phantom in FIG. 25).The end shoes 1090 and 1088 abut against the leg structure 1018 and thefront surface 1035 of totem assembly 1028 and provide a finished look.U-shaped bracket 1093 mounts to bridge beam 1078 via screws or othermechanical fasteners and extends down therefrom. Bracket 1093 operatesas a cable manager and also as a structure to which housing member 1092can be connected. The bridge cover member 1094 can be mechanically orotherwise fastened to the top and bottom housing members 1086 and 1092to close off the bridge channel 1096. In at least some embodiments, thecover members 1094 can easily be removed to access channel 1096 forlaying cables therein or routing cable when appropriate.

Referring now to FIG. 33, operation of the retractor assembly 1052 willbe described in the context of the illustrated system that includes onlya single handset/cable subassembly in the interest of simplifying thisexplanation. When handset 1048 is not in use, handset 1048 can bereceived within an associated handset cavity 1156 (see also FIG. 32)which allows the pulley/weight assembly 1068 to slide down in itsassociated channel 1124 toward the bottom end of the retractor assembly1052. When a conference attendee wishes to use one of the handsets 1048,referring also to FIG. 34, the attendee can rotate door member 1026 onits hinge to an open position, grasp the handset 1048 and pull thehandset out from within the cavity formed below the door member 1026. Asthe handset 1048 is pulled up and out of the cavity, pulley/weightassembly 1068 slides upward within the channel 1124.

Referring now to FIG. 35, the attendee can place the handset 1048 withits undersurface on top surface 1021 of tabletop member 1020. Theattendee can close door 1026. The nonslip undersurface of handset 1048and the weight of the handset 1048 cooperate to retain the handset 1048on the top surface 1021 despite the weight of the pulley/weight assembly1068. Nevertheless, pulley/weight assembly 1068 maintains the portion ofthe cable 1050 above the top surface 1021 taught. Continuing, where thecable 1050 includes audio and video cables (see FIG. 31), the attendeecan link those cables to the attendee's laptop and, when appropriate,select the handset button to take control of information presented viathe display screen 1036.

After a conference has been completed, attendees can unlink theirlaptops from the cables 1050 and replace their handsets 1048 within thecavity or well 1069 below doors 1025 and 1026. To this end, referringonce again to FIGS. 34 and 35, an attendee can open door 1026 and liftthe attendee's handset 1048 from top surface 1021. As the attendee movesthe handset 1048 toward well 1069 below door member 1026, thepulley/weight assembly 1068 moves down within cavity 1124 thereby aidingthe attendee in replacing the handset in the stowed position. Referringto FIG. 33, eventually the handset 1048 is placed back in the associatedhandset cavity 1156 in its stowed position.

While one embodiment has been described above, it should be appreciatedthat the concepts described above may be applicable in many differentembodiments. For example, the exemplary wire management assembly andtotem and bridge concepts may be used with tabletop members that haveother shapes such as, for instance, oval, round, etc. In addition, allof the concepts described above may be used with table assemblies thatdo not include a footrail or additional supporting foot members or withleg support structures that have different height dimensions than thoseillustrated. Moreover, while the embodiment that is described aboveincludes six separate handsets, it should be appreciated that otherembodiments are contemplated that may include more or less handsets suchas, for instance, embodiments that include four handsets, eighthandsets, etc.

Moreover, other embodiments are contemplated that may include two ormore wire management assemblies 1024 and associated leg supportstructures 1018 for supporting larger tabletop members. Furthermore,other embodiments are contemplated that may include a switcher devicelinked to two or more display screens or that include wall mounted orcart mounted display screens that can be positioned independent of othertable assembly components. To this end, see FIG. 37 that shows a two legtable assembly including first and second totem/display assemblies 1014and 1014 b, respectively, two leg structures 1018 a and 1018 b,respectively, a single table top 1020′, a single foot rail 1022′, firstand second wire management assemblies 1024 a and 1024 b, respectively,and first and second bridge assemblies 1016 a and 1016 b, respectively.Here, it may be that only one switcher device is provided or, in somecases where two devices are provided, the devices may be linked so thatsimultaneous control of the display screens results. In some cases oneattendee may control one display while another attendee controls thesecond display screen.

Referring to FIG. 38, in some cases a handset 1048′ may include ahousing 1142 a, 1 button 1144 a and one or more LEDs 1300. In theillustrated embodiment, the housing 1142 a may be formed of atransparent or semitransparent material (e.g., Plexiglas) so that whenthe LEDs are illuminated, light shines through the housing. In at leastsome cases LEDs may be illuminated when a laptop associated with aspecific handset is selected to control the displays. In some cases ahandset may have several different colors of LEDs to indicate differentstatuses. For instance, when no laptop is linked and associated with ahandset, no LEDs may be illuminated in the handset. Once a handset islinked to a laptop and when the linked laptop is not driving thedisplay, a red LED may be illuminated. When a laptop is currentlydriving the display, a green LED may be illuminated.

In addition, while the illustrated embodiment shows a retractor assembly1052 for use with switcher control cables and audio/video cables, itshould be appreciated that such a retractor assembly may be used forother types of cable such as power, data and communication cables.Moreover, referring to FIG. 33, in at least some embodiments,intermediate connectors (not illustrated) may be provided on bracket1178 and cable 1050 may terminate at the intermediate connectors. Here,separate cables would link the intermediate connectors to selector 1084.

Furthermore, other weight types may be employed instead of thepulley/weight assemblies 1068. For instance, a simple weight may befastened to a portion of cable 1050 to tend to pull the handsets 1048toward well 1069.

Referring now to FIG. 40, yet one other exemplary conferencing tableconfiguration or assembly 1301 is illustrated that includes a tableassembly 1302, a totem/display assembly 1304 and a bridge assembly 1312.Table assembly 1302 includes a leg support structure 1316, a table topmember 1314 and a wire management assembly 1320. Referring also to FIGS.41 through 43, leg support structure 1316 includes a vertical legsub-assembly 1318 and horizontal foot members and a rail member whichare not separately labeled. Vertical leg sub-assembly 1318 supports acentral portion of table top member 1314 at a top end thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 40 and 41, the wire management assembly 1320 includesa housing structure 1350 at the top end of sub-assembly 1318 that, asthe label implies, houses a sub-set of the components that comprise thewire management assembly 1320. In FIG. 42, an outside cover ofsub-assembly 1318 has been removed as well as the housing structure 1350to show that portions of assembly 1320 reside within the housingstructure 1350 as well as extend down into a channel formed bysub-assembly 1318.

Referring once again to FIG. 40, table top member 1314 forms a centralopening for receiving a sub-set of the wire management assemblycomponents as will be described in greater detail below. Referring toFIG. 43, bridge assembly 1312 in this embodiment includes a simplebracket that secures an undersurface of table top member 1314 to totem1304. Here, video and, in at least some case, audio cables, may passfrom within housing 1350 to totem 1304 adjacent the bridge bracket 1312for linkage to display screens. In addition, power may be provided tothe components within housing 1350 via a cable running up through totem1306 and adjacent or under the bracket that forms bridge 1312 into thehousing 1350. In still other cases, foot members 1315 (only one of twoshown) secure a bottom of totem 1306 to foot structure that forms theunderstructure of table assembly 1302. Here, in at least someembodiments, power and data cables may run through members 1315 tocomponents within housing 1350.

Referring yet again to FIGS. 40 through 43, totem 1304 includes agenerally vertical structure 1306 that supports first and second flatpanel video display screens 1308 and 1310, respectively. Here, the twoscreens may enable separate table users to control contentsimultaneously, a different user controlling each one of display screens1308 and 1310. In other embodiments, a large single display screen maybe provided as described above with respect to other embodiments wherethe display screen may be split into two or more separate regions wherethe content in each of the regions can be controlled by a different oneof a plurality of table users via a user unique handset.

Referring now to FIG. 44, an exemplary wire management assembly 1320 isillustrated which includes a plurality of housing component as well aspower and data cables, a power brick, an Ethernet switching component, avideo player, a plurality of power and data receptacles, six handsets,one identified by numeral 1326, and pulley-type weights, two of whichare collectively identified by numeral 1332. Assembly 1320 is similar toassembly 1052 described above with a few differences. With respect todifferences between the assemblies, referring to FIGS. 44 through 47, itshould be appreciated that a handset receiving housing 1336 that mountsto an undersurface of the table top 1314 (see again FIG. 40) below thecentral opening forms a recess 1330 in which an island forming member1324 is centrally mounted (see specifically FIG. 45). Generally verticalor angled surfaces formed by member 1336 and the island forming member1324 form power and data receptacle receiving openings 1332 and 1334,respectively. Here, a top surface of the island forming member 1324resides below an undersurface of top member 1314 and forms a spacebetween island forming member 1324 and the plane formed by the table topmember 1314 in which the handsets 1326 can generally reside. Thus, inthis embodiment, the handsets are positioned relatively higher withinthe recess 1330 than in the previous embodiment described above.

Referring now to FIG. 46, audio/video cable extension modules 1360 areshown with a separate module 1360 connected via a cable 1369 to each oneof the handsets 1326. Thus, here, module 1360 can be used to link to acomputer used by a user and can thereby be readily associated with oneof the handsets 1326 linked thereto. Computers can be linked to thepower and data outlets that reside in openings 1332 and 1334,respectively, as shown in FIG. 45. In other contemplated embodimentspower, data, audio and video may be supported by each of modules 1360.

Referring still to FIGS. 44 through 46 and also to FIG. 47, anotherdifference between the embodiment shown in FIGS. 40 through 47 and theembodiments described above is that cables from the handsets 1326 extenddown through island forming member 1324 (see again FIG. 45), wrap aroundan associated weight 1332 and then extend back up toward theundersurface of member 1336 so that the weight 1332 associated with ahandset resides below the handset when the handset is in the storedposition. Here, see openings 1336 formed in the top surface of islandmember 1324 for passing handset cable. See specifically FIG. 47 where acable 1351 extends down from handset 1326, wrap around an associatedweight 1332 and then extends back up as indicated at 1351 to under theassociated handset 1326 and terminates at 1354. This design results in amore compact wire management structure, operates better than the designsdescribed above and locates the handsets 1326 in a more easilyaccessible position.

Referring now to FIGS. 45 and 47, in at least some embodiments of thepresent invention it is contemplated that the top surface of the islandforming member 1326 may be fitted with flat tacky plastic or magneticmembers 1338 where the handsets 1326 have complementary flat surfaces1362 (see FIG. 47). Here, when a handset 1326 is placed on one ofmembers 1338, the handset 1326 will generally be captured thereby unlessaffirmatively removed by a table user. When a handset 1326 is in thestored position as shown in FIGS. 44, 46 and 47, the power and datamodules 1360 reside within a lower portion of the recess 1330 formed byhousing 1336. Thus, both the handset 1326 and the power/data module arelocated in easily accessible storage positions when stowed. In stillother embodiments parts 1338 of the top surface of the island deck 1324may be raised or recessed and complimentary recesses or raised portionsmay be provided on the undersurfaces of the hand sets 1326 so that whena handset 1326 is placed on the deck, the raised portion and the recesscooperate to effectively hold the handset in the stored position unlessaffirmatively removed by a user.

Hereafter, general mechanical features of the configuration 10 aredescribed that are useful in understanding operation of the currentinvention. The prior application referenced above should be referred tofor more detail regarding the mechanical aspects of configuration 10.

Display system 12 includes a totem or stand support structure 28 andfour relatively large flat panel displays 22 a, 22 b, 22 c and 22 d.Totem 28 is vertically oriented and includes a front facing surface 32to which displays 22 a through 22 d are mounted. Displays 22 a through22 d are arranged so that viewing or presentation surfaces face in thesame direction and generally away from totem 28. Displays 22 a through22 d are arranged in a two row and two column arrangement. Although notillustrated, totem 28 includes a housing that forms a cavity in whichpower and data cables can be received to provide power/data to display22 a through 22 d.

Conference table assembly 14 includes a support structure 24, a tabletop member 26 and a bridge assembly 30. Support structure 24 generallyforms a vertical leg to support top member 26 in a horizontalorientation. Structure 24 also forms an internal cavity for receivingvarious power, data and communication components as well as othermechanical components such as cable take up subassemblies described inthe co-pending patent application referenced above.

Bridge assembly 30 secures totem 28 to support structure 24 to stabilizetotem in a vertical orientation. In addition, although not illustrated,bridge assembly 30 forms an internal channel or cavity for passing powerand/or data cables between structure 24 and totem 28.

Top member 26 is generally a rigid square flat member that forms a topwork surface and a central rectilinear opening. A dual door assembly 36is mounted within the central opening that includes two door members 39,41 that have top surfaces that are flush with the top surface of member26 when the doors are closed. Each door in hinged to open to allowaccess to table components there below. Together the doors aredimensioned so that when closed as best seen in FIG. 4, each door 39 and41 forms a gap (see 43 and 45) with the opening around a peripheral edgefor passing cables.

Referring still to FIG. 4, adjacent the doors 39 and 41 at the edge ofthe central opening an illuminated button 64 is provided. Although notillustrated, button 64 is linked to a power source. Button 64 is a dualstate push button and, in at lease some embodiments, is illuminated allthe time. In some embodiments, button 64 may include a universal powerindicator symbol indicating to users that the table is powered. Byilluminating button 64 even when the table configuration 10 is not beingused, the button invites users to start up a conferencing session and isan indicator that the configuration 10 is operable and ready to use.When not in use button 64 will have a first illuminated color (e.g.,white) and when button 64 is selected, the button will be illuminated ina second color (e.g., green) confirming for the user that the button hasbeen selected.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2, components mounted within structure 24below top member 26 include a switching device 16, a user interfaceassembly 19 and a power source 55. Referring also to FIG. 3, whereswitching device 16 is shown in four different views, switching device16, as the label implies, can be used to switch different inputvideo/audio sources at different input ports to change which input isfeeding video/audio output ports. To this end, exemplary switchingdevice 16 includes six input ports collectively identified by numeral 17(three on either end of device 16), a video conference input port 42,and a PC input port 40. Device 16 includes four video/audio output portscollectively labeled 44. In operation, switching device 16 can becontrolled to output video/audio from any one of the input ports 17, 40or 42 to any one or more of output ports 44. In addition, switchingdevice 16 is controllable so that input from two, three or four of thedifferent inputs 17, 40 or 42 can be output simultaneously to differentones of the output ports 44.

Referring again to FIG. 2, interface assembly 19 includes a deck member21 and six selectable control interfaces referred to as “puck”assemblies, two of which are labeled 20. Deck member 21 forms a topsurface 25 for receiving and supporting the puck assemblies 20 when thepuck assemblies are in stored positions below covers 39 and 41 (seeagain FIG. 1). Each puck assembly 20 is similarly constructed andoperated in a similar fashion and therefore, in the interest ofsimplifying this explanation, only one puck assembly 20 will bedescribed here in detail.

Referring also to FIG. 4, exemplary puck assembly 20 includes a puck 48and first and second video/audio cables 50 and 52, respectively. Cable50 is used to link puck 48 to a computer/laptop audio/video output portor other video source while cable 52 links puck 48 through a circuitouspath to one of the six input ports 17 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In atleast some embodiments, each cable 52 can be taken up by a take upassembly (not shown) below deck member 21 as an associated puck 48 ismoved from a use position on top of top member 26 (see FIG. 4) to astorage position as shown in FIG. 2. For more detail regarding onepossible take up assembly, see US patent application Ser. No. 12/250,192referenced above. As seen in FIG. 4, when a puck 48 is pulled into a useposition on top of member 26, cable 52 can pass through gap 43 when door39 is closed.

Referring still to FIG. 4 and also to FIG. 5, exemplary puck 48 includesa disc or puck shaped housing 49 that supports a plurality of componentsincluding a processor 71, an on/off button 58, first through fourthselectable controls or control buttons 60 a-60 d, four illuminationdevices 73 a through 73 d and an illumination ring 56. Processor 71 maybe a programmable microprocessor or may be configured via digitalcomponents. Processor 71 is linked to each of cables 50 and 52 and cansense when cabled 50 is linked to a video/audio source. Processor 50 isalso linked to each of buttons 56 and 60 a-60 d to sense when any ofthose buttons are selected. Processor 50 is further linked to each ofillumination devices 73 a through 73 d and ring 56 for providing powerto and cutting power from each of those devices.

In at least some embodiments each of illumination devices 73 a-73 d andring 56 can be controlled to generate light in two different colors suchas white and green or can be dark so that at least two or threedifferent states can be indicated in visually distinguished ways.

As seen in FIG. 4, each button 60 a-60 d has a different number 1, 2, 3or 4 indicated thereon. Here, each number 1, 2, 3 or 4 corresponds to adifferent one of the display screens 22 a through 22 d in FIG. 1. Forinstance, button 60 a labeled “1” may correspond to screen 22 a, button60 b labeled “2” may correspond to screen 22 b, and so on.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, processor 71 is programmed orconfigured to determine when a video source is linked to cable 50 aswell as when any of buttons 58 or 60 a-60 d is selected and to indicatea current state of the puck and associated video source via theillumination devices 73 a-73 d and ring 56 for the benefit of both thepuck user and others gathered around configuration 10. In addition,processor 71 provides an indication of the display configuration 12 tothe puck user. In this regard, in a system including four displays(e.g., the number of common displays is M) as in FIG. 1, all four screenselection buttons 60 a-60 d (where N is the number of selection buttons)may be illuminated prior to selection to indicate four options that canbe selected by the puck user. Where another configuration includes lessthan four displays, only a subset of buttons 60 a-60 d would beilluminated prior to selection. For instance, in FIG. 2, where theconfiguration only includes two displays and hence there are only twodisplay options, only buttons 60 a and 60 b would be illuminated priorto selection to indicate only two options to select from. Here,switching device 16 may be configured to sense the number of outputports 44 to which display screens 22 a-22 d or other output devices(e.g., projectors) are linked and provide a feedback signal via cable 52to processor 71 to indicate the number of buttons 60 a-60 d toilluminate.

In at least some embodiments the top surface of puck 48 may be formed ofa black plastic where, when a button 60 a-60 d is not illuminated, thenumber 1, 2, 3 or 4 appears dark and blends in with the top puck surfaceso that the number 1, 2, 3 or 4 is essentially unnoticeable.

By providing a puck 48 that includes four screen selection buttons 60a-60 d, a single puck type may be manufactured that can be used with anyconferencing configuration including one, two, three or four commondisplays which reduces design and manufacturing costs appreciably.

Referring again to FIG. 4, ring 56 is a ring shaped member disposedgenerally along a circumferential edge of the top surface of the puck48. because puck 48 has a generally low profile, light from ring 56 isrelatively easily viewable from all directions above top member 26.Thus, from any vantage point above top member 26 conference participantscan see the visual state of ring 56.

While controls 60 a-60 d are described here as buttons, it should beappreciated that controls 60 a-60 d may take any of several differentforms. For instance, controls 60 a-60 d may be provided via a touchsensitive interface surface including a separately selectable locationor area associated with each button 60 a through 60 d.

In at least some embodiments ring 56 is not illuminated until avideo/audio source (e.g., a laptop) is linked to cable 50. Once a sourceis linked to cable 50, if the linked source is supplying video/audio toone or more of displays 22 a-22 d (see FIG. 1), ring 56 is illuminatedin one color (e.g., white) and if the linked source is not currentlydriving any of displays 22 a-22 d, ring 56 is illuminated in a secondcolor (e.g., green). Thus, ring 56 is useful as an indicator toconference participants around table top 26 that identifies the personor persons that are currently displaying information on one or more ofthe common displays 22 a-22 d.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 4, after a laptop or other video/audiosource is linked to cable 50 to provide video via cable 50 to display 22a, button 60 a is selected, to provide video to display 22 b, button 60b is selected, and so on. Prior to each of buttons 60 a-60 d beingselected, in at least some embodiments, the buttons 60 a-60 d are notilluminated. In other embodiments, prior to selection, each button 60a-60 d may be illuminated, like ring 56, in one color and afterselections, each selected button may change to a second illuminatedcolor to distinguish selected from unselected buttons 60 a-60 d.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, central button 58 is provided as anon/off button which may be selected by a puck user to effectively cutoff the user's linked laptop or other source from driving displays 22a-22 d. Thus, where a laptop is linked to cable 50 but a user does notwant to inadvertently present laptop information via the commondisplays, the user can simply press button 58 to render puck 48ineffective at passing on video/audio to the displays. Here, when button58 is selected to “turn off” the puck 48, ring 56 and buttons 60 a-60 d,in at lease some cases, are no longer illuminated.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, prior to any laptop or other sourcebeing linked to configuration 10 to drive displays 22 a-22 d, indicatorbutton 64 may be illuminated with a white color to indicate to personsin the vicinity that configuration 10 is powered and ready for use.Hereinafter, a white light will be indicated in the figures via a doublehatch (see 64 in FIG. 4) and a green light will be indicated via asingle hatch (see 64 in FIG. 6). When a person wants to useconfiguration 10, the person presses button 64 which causes button 64 tochange from white to green as shown in FIG. 6 to signal to the personthat the system is powering up.

In addition, when button 64 is pressed, in at least some embodiments, ashort video clip is presented via one or more of displays 22 a-22 dproviding simple instructions to the person who pressed button 64regarding how to use configuration 10. Referring to FIGS. 7-9, exemplaryscreen shots showing images consistent with a simple instruction videoare illustrated. In FIG. 7, a graphic of the utility bay door 39 opening51 adjacent a laptop image 53 (i.e., a source image) is shown toindicate that one of the doors 37 or 41 (see FIG. 1) should be opened.In FIG. 8 a puck 57 is shown moving out of the cavity under the door 51and onto the work surface where the cable 59 associated with the puck islinked to the laptop 53. In FIG. 9 a phantom user's hand image 61 isshown moving toward and over the puck image 57 to select one of thebuttons provided thereby. Here, the instructional video clip isintentionally extremely simplified and includes only three steps “open”,“connect” and “share.” In at least some embodiments the instructions areonly provided once and the duration is extremely short (e.g.,approximately 15 seconds) which gives a user a sense that configuration10 is particularly easy to use.

Following the instructions, as shown in FIG. 10, a user pulls one of thepucks 48 from the cavity below a door 39 or 41 and links a laptop 69 tothe puck 48 via cable 50 (see also FIG. 1). Once a laptop 69 is linkedto cable 50, ring 59 as well as selectable buttons 60 a-60 d areilluminated white (see double crosshatch in FIG. 9) to indicate to thelaptop user that the user is linked and can opt to present informationfrom the user's laptop screen via any one or combination of displays 22a-22 d corresponding to illuminated buttons 60 a-60 d, respectively.Here, the white light ring 56 also indicates that currently the user ofpuck 48 is not presenting via any of displays 22 a-22 d.

Referring to FIG. 11, when a puck user wants to present information fromher laptop 69 display via display screen 22 a, the user presses button60 a to indicate intention to drive display 22 a. Once button 60 a isselected, four things happen. First, information currently displayed viadisplay 22 a is replaced by the information from the user's laptop 69display. Second, if a different laptop was previously presentinginformation via display 22 a when button 60 a is selected, the otheruser's puck illumination may change. For instance, if the other user wasonly displaying via display 22 a when displaced, the other user's puck'sring 56 will change from green back to white illumination indicating theuser is no longer driving any of displays 22 a-22 d. As anotherinstance, where another user was driving each of displays 22 a and 22 cwhen button 60 a is selected, the other user's puck ring will remaingreen after displacement from screen 22 a to indicate that the otheruser is still driving display 22 c despite being displaced from display22 a. In addition, in this case, the other user's puck button 60 a willbe illuminated white after displacement from screen 22 a while button 60c will remain green indicating that the other user is still drivingdisplay 22 c.

Third, to indicate that the user of puck 48 in FIG. 10 is now driving atleast one of displays 22 a-22 d, ring 56 on puck 48 changes from whiteto green (see single cross hatch ring in FIG. 10). Fourth, to let thepuck user know which displays 22 a-22 d she is currently driving, button60 a illumination changes from white to green. Here, other buttons 60b-60 d that were not selected remain white (i.e., they are shown asdouble cross hatched).

If the user next wants to display her laptop information via displays 22a-22 c, referring to FIG. 12, the user selects button 60 b and 60 cwhich cause information from the user's laptop screen to replace anyexisting information on displays 22 b and 22 c, causes other puckillumination to change accordingly and causes buttons 60 b and 60 c tochange from white to green illumination. At this point, as shown in FIG.12, each of buttons 60 a-60 c and ring 56 are illuminated green whilebutton 60 d remains white.

To relinquish control of a display 22 a-22 d currently controlled, in atleast some embodiments, the button 22 a-22 d corresponding to a display22 a-22 d can be selected a second time. In the iterative, to relinquishcontrol of displays 22 a-22 d, on/off button 58 may be selected. Oncedisplay control is relinquished, puck 48 illumination is updatedaccordingly.

After a configuration session is over and all sources have beendisconnected from cables 50, the system will eventually time out (e.g.,approximately 15 minutes) and will power down so that button 64 returnsto its white illuminated state (see again FIG. 4).

Referring now to FIG. 13, a second configuration 10 a that is consistentwith at least some aspects of the present invention is illustrated.Configuration 10 a is different than configuration 10 in two generalways. First, configuration 10 has an oval table shape top member 260 asopposed to rectangular. Second, configuration 10 includes only twodisplays 122 a and 122 d instead of four. Here, referring also to FIG.14, in at least some embodiments, it is contemplated that when a laptop69 is linked to a puck 48 initially so ring 56 is illuminated white,only buttons 60 a and 60 b would illuminate white thereby indicating toa user that there are only two display choices 122 a and 122 b insteadof four. Other operation of configuration 10 a is similar to thatdescribed above.

Referring now to FIG. 15, in at least some embodiments it iscontemplated that laptops 69 and other visual/audio sources may be ableto wirelessly link up to a configuration 10 b processor via a wirelessaccess device 100 or the like. In this case the configuration 10 b maynot need a utility bay and will not require cable hookups or physicalpucks. Here, where a source 69 is associated with the configuration forcontrol purposes, referring also to FIG. 16, a software “widget” puckrepresentation or control interface representation (hereafter a“widget”) 48 a may be provided on screen. In this case it iscontemplated that the widget 48 a will have an appearance similar to theappearance of interface 60 and button 58 where different widget areascorresponding to buttons 60 a-60 d and 58 will be selectable via a mousecontrolled cursor or touch (in the case of a touch sensitive display)for selection. In this case it is contemplated that when a virtualbutton on the widget is selected, the functionality and illuminationdescribed above with respect to puck 48 would occur. When the widgetring 56 is illuminated, the laptop could beep or buzz (i.e., create anaudible signal of some type) to indicate which laptop has taken control.

In yet another embodiment where a laptop source user has a touch screenphone or other palm type computing device in addition to thelaptop/source, a widget may be provided via the palm type device wherethe widget size can be enlarged to include much of the display. To thisend see FIG. 17 that shows a palm type device 120 that includes a largetouch screen where a virtual puck palm device 120 and laptop 69 wouldhave to be associated in some way so that palm device control wouldcause the correct/associated laptop information to drive appropriatedisplays 22 a-22 d.

In a wireless system where a widget or virtual control interface ispresented via a display screen, the control interface may take any ofseveral different forms. For instance, where a configuration includesfour common displays (see FIG. 1), the control interface 130 may have anappearance as in FIG. 18 that shows screen selections in a pattern thatmimics the pattern of the four display screens 22 a-22 d. Where a systemincludes only two displays (see FIG. 13), the virtual control interfacemay only include an image of two selectable displays, and so on.

Referring to FIG. 19, in wireless embodiments, a mechanical controlinterface 140 akin to puck 48 described above may be provided where theinterface 140 links to a USB port or the like on a laptop 69. Here,interface 140 operates in the same fashion as puck 48 described aboveexcept that control signals from interface 140 are provided to aswitching device wirelessly through the laptop. In this case interface140 still provides a visual queue to conference participants usingconfiguration 10 b indicating which laptop(s)/source(s) is being used todrive the displays.

In some embodiments one or more projectors (not illustrated) may replacethe displays 22 a-22 d. Where a system includes a single projector, theprojected image may be divided into two, four, etc., separatepresentation spaces where each switching device output 44 drives adifferent one of the presentation spaces so that multiple sources can beused to display in different spaces simultaneously.

Several specific embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed above. It should be appreciated that in the development of anysuch actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project,numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve thedevelopers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related andbusiness related constraints, which may vary from one implementation toanother. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a developmenteffort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be aroutine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those ofordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

For example, while the pucks 48 described above include illuminationdevices controllable to indicate different states, it should beappreciated that other indicators that can visually distinguish statesare contemplated. For instance, each button 60 a-60 d in FIG. 4 mayinclude a liquid crystal display type device where different crosshatching indicates different statuses. As another example, in at leastsome embodiments it is contemplated that each time a presentation statechanges, a puck or other system component may generate an audible signalto indicate a state change (see audio generator 77 in FIG. 5). Inaddition, while the embodiments illustrated include two or four displayssupported by a totem, it should be appreciated that the illustratedembodiments are only exemplary and that other numbers of displays may besupported by a totem or that displays may in some cases be mounted to awall or other supporting structure proximate a conferencing table.

Thus, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, andalternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the following appended claims.

1-54. (canceled)
 55. A method for use with a common display screen, atleast a first and a second computing device and a control interface,each computing device including a display screen, the control interfaceincluding at least a first and a second control button, the methodcomprising the steps of: presenting first and second content from firstand second computing devices on first and second different portions ofthe common display screen, respectively, the first and second contentduplicating content presented on the display screens of the first andsecond computing devices, respectively; detecting selection of one ofthe first and second control buttons on the control interface andremoving at least one of the first and second content from the commondisplay screen while persistently presenting the other of the first andsecond content on the common display screen in response to selection ofthe control button.
 56. The method of claim 55 wherein the controlinterface comprises a third control button associated with a thirdcomputing device, and wherein upon detecting selection of the thirdcontrol button, content corresponding to at least one of the first andsecond computing devices is removed from the common display screen whilepersistently presenting the content from the other of the first andsecond computing devices, the step of removing the at least one of thefirst and second content including replacing the at least one of thefirst and second content on the common display screen with content thatduplicates content presented on the display screen of the thirdcomputing device.
 57. The method of claim 55 further including the stepsof, while the second content is presented on a portion of the commondisplay screen, detecting selection of a control button associated withthe second computing device and, upon detection of selection of thecontrol button associated with the second computing device, removing thesecond content from the common display screen.
 58. The method of claim55 wherein the control interface also includes at least one illuminationdevice controllable to indicate at least first and second statesincluding a first state when content on the display screen of anassociated computing device is duplicated on the common display screenand a second state when content on the display screen of an associatedcomputing device is not presented on the common display screen, themethod further including the step of controlling the illumination deviceto indicate the first and second states.
 59. The method of claim 55wherein the common display screen may be divided into four spaces forpresenting content from four different computing devices simultaneously,the method further including the step of presenting content from fourdifferent computing devices simultaneously on the common display screen.60. The method of claim 55 wherein each control button is associatedwith a corresponding control interface.
 61. The method of claim 60,wherein each control interface includes a virtual control interfacepresented on the display screen of an associated computing device, thestep of detecting including detecting selection on the display screen.62. The method of claim 60 wherein each control interface includes acable including first and second ends, a plug at one end of the cableand a button at the second end of the cable, the plug receivable withina port of a computing device, the method further including the step oflinking first, second and third plugs from first, second and thirdcontrol interfaces to the first, second and third computing devices,respectively, via ports in the computing devices.
 63. The method ofclaim 60 wherein each of the control interfaces also includes anindicator controllable to indicate at least first and second statesincluding a first state when content on the display screen of anassociated computing device is duplicated on the common display screenand a second state when content on the display screen of an associatedcomputing device is not presented on the common display screen, themethod further including the step of controlling the indicators toindicate the first and second states.
 64. The method of claim 61 whereinthe virtual control interface includes a button icon and the indicatorincludes a ring that circumscribes the button icon and wherein the stepof controlling the indicators includes controlling the color of eachring to indicate the first and second states.
 65. The method of claim 60also for use with a switching device linked to the common display,wherein each control interface further includes a cable having first andsecond ends where the control button is linked to an intermediateportion of the cable between the first and second ends, the second endslinked to the switching device, the first ends each including a plug,the method further including the step of linking one of the plugs to aconnection port on one of the computing devices.
 66. The method of claim60, wherein each of the control interfaces also includes an illuminationdevice controllable to indicate at least first and second statesincluding a first state when content on the display screen of anassociated computing device is duplicated on the common display screenand a second state when content on the display screen of an associatedcomputing device is not presented on the common display screen, themethod further including the step of controlling the illuminationdevices to indicate the first and second states.
 67. A method for usewith a first computing device, a first control interface, a switchingdevice and a common display screen, the first computing device includinga device display screen and an input port, the first control interfaceincluding a control button, a processor, and a plug, the methodcomprising the steps of: with first content presented on the displayscreen of the first computing device and not presented on the commondisplay screen: detecting connection of the plug to the input port;detecting selection of the control button; and upon detection ofselection of the control button causing wireless transmission of thefirst content to the switching device to be presented on the commondisplay.
 68. The method of claim 67 further including the steps of, withthe first content presented on the display screen of the first computingdevice and the first content presented on the common display screen,detecting a next selection of the control button; upon detection of anext selection of the control button controlling the switching device toremove the first content from the common display.
 69. The method ofclaim 67 for use with a second computing device and a second controlinterface, the second computing device including a second device displayscreen and a second input port, the second control interface including asecond control button, a second processor, and a second plug, the methodfurther comprising the steps of: with second content presented on thesecond display screen and not presented on the common display screen:detecting connection of the second plug to the second input port;detecting selection of the second control button; and upon detection ofselection of the second control button, causing transmission of awireless signal to the switching device causing the switching device topresent the second content on the common display.
 70. The method ofclaim 69 wherein the step of presenting the second content on the commondisplay includes replacing the first content on the common displayscreen with the second content.
 71. The method of claim 67 furtherincluding the step of, upon receiving the first content at the switchingdevice, replacing content presented on the common display prior toselection of the control button on the first interface device with thefirst content.
 72. The method of claim 67 further including the step of,upon receiving the first content at the switching device, adding thefirst content to the content presented on the common display prior toselection of the control button on the first interface device.
 73. Themethod of claim 72 wherein the step of adding the first content includespresenting the first content on a portion of the common display screenadjacent the content presented on the common display prior to selectionof the control button on the first interface device.
 74. The method ofclaim 67, wherein the first computing device further comprises anillumination device, and further comprising the step of illuminating theillumination device via a first color to indicate a first state and viaa second color to indicate a second state.